Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $166,590/year ($80.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $108K at the entry level to $273K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $149,906 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $167K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About public relations managers
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,501/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers a genuinely strong financial position for public relations managerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations managers in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $148K | $143K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $137K | $137K |
| Bellingham | $128K | $124K |
| Boise City | $99K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $108K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K. Top earners bring in $273K or more, a $165K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Public Relations Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $198K | +35% | 7,410 |
| New York | $181K | +23% | 7,710 |
| Virginia | $176K | +20% | 2,610 |
| New Jersey | $175K | +19% | 2,420 |
| Massachusetts | $172K | +17% | 2,170 |
| California | $168K | +14% | 9,400 |
| Maine | $167K | +14% | N/A |
| Colorado | $163K | +11% | N/A |
| Washington | $159K | +9% | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $156K | +6% | 210 |
| Connecticut | $154K | +5% | 890 |
| Delaware | $153K | +4% | 170 |
| Maryland | $149K | +2% | 1,530 |
| Minnesota | $139K | -5% | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $135K | -8% | 1,540 |
| Utah | $133K | -10% | 580 |
| New Hampshire | $133K | -10% | 330 |
| North Carolina | $132K | -10% | 1,510 |
| Illinois | $132K | -10% | 2,770 |
| Oregon | $131K | -11% | 1,410 |
| Kansas | $130K | -12% | 300 |
| Florida | $128K | -13% | 2,990 |
| Tennessee | $127K | -13% | 700 |
| Texas | $127K | -14% | 8,190 |
| Alaska | $121K | -18% | 380 |
| Iowa | $121K | -18% | 630 |
| Ohio | $119K | -19% | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $118K | -20% | 2,210 |
| Michigan | $118K | -20% | 1,720 |
| New Mexico | $115K | -22% | 250 |
| Indiana | $115K | -22% | 600 |
| Missouri | $115K | -22% | 760 |
| Arizona | $114K | -22% | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $114K | -22% | 450 |
| North Dakota | $114K | -22% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $114K | -22% | 1,010 |
| Kentucky | $112K | -24% | 510 |
| Hawaii | $105K | -29% | 390 |
| South Carolina | $105K | -29% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $104K | -29% | 330 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -29% | 340 |
| Montana | $100K | -32% | 180 |
| Alabama | $98K | -33% | 540 |
| Idaho | $98K | -33% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $97K | -34% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | -35% | 490 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -36% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $82K | -44% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $167K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $108K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,459/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $167K here vs. $147K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $167K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $166,590 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $107,650, and experienced public relations managers can clear $273,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,385/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a public relations managers salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public relations managers salary is worth about $149,906 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do public relations managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.